I've been chatting with friends a lot lately on relationship topics. One recurring topic that came up was the "How do one really know if he/she is in love with the person, and not the relationship? "

I did some thinking on the difference. Loving a person means being there for a person no matter how hard the relationship is. Not all relationship are without barriers. Parents/friends acceptance might be one of the factors where a relationship can be difficult to maintain. Distance is another example of a barrier. But, is that all?

Loving the relationship means being comfortable with the relationship right? Maybe like Mr.A have been going out with Miss A for 5 years and is comfortable with it. They get married and stuff because Mr.A feels its stable, but in the matter of fact Mr.A already have no/less feeling for his wife. I mean some couples do that right? Why? Isn't that ...???

I seriously have no idea where this entry is leading too but I have another question in mind. If a person started of loving his partner, that doesn't mean he won't end up just loving the relationship right? Majority of relationships starts of smoothly, lovey dovey couples, but after sometime things get mundane. Or the relationship becomes a one sided effort. Or suddenly the relationship feels more like a user-and-abuser type of relationship. When all of this happens, when there's no more feelings left, why do one still hang on to the relationship? Do one realise that he/she is no longer in love with the person, and just love the relationship instead? And if one knows, holding on to the relationship is just like lying to oneself right?

To all couples out there, this is something for you to ponder upon. Do you love your partner, or the relationship?